Koi: Living Jewels of the Orient (Hardcover)

by Steve Hickling (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In Japan, breeding koi—a colorful and beautiful member of the carp family—has occupied a position between hobby and art form for more than two centuries. This stunningly illustrated book, compiled by a team of koi experts, shows and tells aquarium enthusiasts virtually everything they need to know about this fascinating activity. Koi are hardy fish, relatively large in size, and the most practical way to keep them is in an outdoor pond. Combining text with illustrations, an important section of the book explains the requirements of a garden pond for koi, showing the filtration system and pointing out how it functions. Most of the book concentrates on koi themselves, focusing on a brief history of koi, advice on buying koi, the fish's physiology, health care, feeding, breeding koi, showing koi, and joining koi clubs. An 80-page section tells all about koi variations, and features color photos of more than 100 varieties. Illustrated two-page spreads review each variety's history, and show both their more desirable and less desirable color markings. Here is a beautifully designed and illustrated volume that emphasizes the special satisfactions of keeping and breeding koi. Approximately 450 color photos and illustrations.

From the Back Cover
In Japan, breeding koi—a colorful and beautiful member of the carp family—has occupied a position between hobby and art form for more than two centuries. This stunningly illustrated book, compiled by a team of koi experts, shows and tells you virtually everything you need to know about this fascinating activity. Koi are hardy fish, relatively large in size, and the most practical way to keep them is in an outdoor pond. Combining text with illustrations, an important section of the book explains the requirements of a garden pond for koi, showing the filtration system and pointing out how it functions. Most of the book concentrates on koi themselves, presenting a brief history of how this fish originated, and continuing with information on purchasing, maintaining, and breeding these unusual and exotically beautiful fish. Color photos show more than 100 koi varieties and point out both more desirable and less desirable markings to look for when selecting specimens for your pond.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series; 1 edition (April 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764154486
• ISBN-13: 978-0764154485
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #697,624 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Koi Keeper "Must Have", December 12, 2002

By	Frieda (Gridley, IL United States) - See all my reviews

I have a pond business, and I not only keep koi myself, but I have read several books on koi. This book is absolutely incredible. It has just enough of everything to be educational without being overwhelming. The material is presented in an easy to understand format, from the origins of the hobby to the present, and the pictures are spectacular. Each variety of koi is beautifully represented, and the chapters on nutrition and water quality are enlightening. I loaned my copy to a friend and have not gotten it back yet!

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars beautiful, not the last word, September 13, 2004

By	Cecelia Schmieder (Pelham, MA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book has received such glowing reviews I felt the need to add a sour note. It is full of beautiful pictures and has lots of useful information, but it is not as exhaustive a reference as it would seem from its size. The chapters are divided between four authors, with uneven results. The water quality chapter wastes entire pages on step-by-step instructions on how to use a particular brand of water test (they come with instructions,we don't need this in a book). The filtration chapter is devoted almost exclusively to a particular filtration system that chapter's author designs and sells. On the other hand, most of the other chapters are at least adequate, and the koi varieties section is outstanding, with the clearest delineation of the many koi types I have ever read--anyone can tell a showa from a sanke after looking at the side-by-side comparison. This section alone makes the book worth buying.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They did a fantastic job here., January 16, 2003

By	"safedog" (poway, ca United States) - See all my reviews

If you are looking for a book that is easy to understand and detailed this is it. I spent some time in a few of the major book stores and just was not satisfed with what I saw in the way of books on koi. I ordered this book on a recommendation here on the web, from some other person. I can not tell you how impressed I am with this book. I highly recommend it. Great colored photos of all the different strains and the proper care of koi. Order it and you will like me, not be disappointed.